Oregon's Little Angel

Steve Summers

12/09/2009

Ryan Wolfe never dreamed he'd find an angel who was a Duck fan, but he has. Wolfe, an Oregon graduate (Class '06) and naturally a Duck fan, read a story online about a young girl named Angel Wilson. Angel is afflicted with Cerebral Palsy and is unable to speak or walk.

However according to her father Billy Wilson, Angel brightens up when she see the Oregon Ducks on television. No one can say exactly why the youngster is taken with the Ducks, but Wolfe was so moved by the story, he decided to do something about it.

Wolfe along with several other Duck fans with big hearts, felt there should be a way of bringing Angel and her family to Oregon to see the Ducks. Wolfe volunteered to spearhead an operation to bring the Wilson family to Oregon for the 113th annual Civil War on December 9th. Little did anyone know that the game would turn out to be one of the most important in Oregon's history.

"In the beginning we really just wanted to bring the family out so that they could see Eugene and the team," said Wolfe. "We obviously had no idea the implications of the game would turn into what they did."

The Wilson family flew out to Oregon, took in the Civil War and later had an opportunity to spend some time on the Oregon coast. Wolfe and his friends who used message boards to coordinate and communicate what was going on, were also able to raise money to fly the Wilson family to Oregon. Not only that, but as the word spread, other generous Oregonians pitched in. Local hotels donated a place to stay including the trip to the coast.

Wolfe found that the effort he put in was well worth it. Would he do it again for others? He would.

"My actual favorite part of all this, aside from seeing the family arrive was to see people from all walks of life come together for a completely selfless act," confessed Wolfe. "Nobody wanted anything, everyone wanted to just make her life a little bit better."